Pros and amateurs turned out in large numbers over the weekend for the final two opening flights, with 2,461 entrants for Day 1d alone. That's six more players than Days 1a and 1b combined.

The surge from the last two days pushed this year's total to 6,844 players, nearly 500 players ahead of the 2007 field (6,358). This year's champion will receive a little more than $9.1 million, the second largest prize in poker history.

Much of the focus of the final opening flight was on poker's two most famous Phils: Phil Hellmuth and Phil Ivey.

Hellmuth, as usual, arrived late and in style to the main event. This time, he was suited up as an 11-star (one for each of his bracelets) poker general and was sporting military gear when he arrived at ESPN's featured TV table.

• Notable survivors: David Singer, Brad Booth, Brian Townsend, Nenad Medic, Mike Matusow, Joe Hachem, John Juanda and two that surprised me: Chris Moneymaker and Clonie Gowen, although Gowen was crippled late after spending some of the day as the chip leader.

• Notable bustouts: Gavin Griffin, Justin Bonomo, J.C. Tran, T.J. Cloutier, Tony Guoga, Marcel Luske and former main event champion Huck Seed, who was out in the first half hour.